Analysis / Saudi Arabia

The detrimental impact of administrative counter-terrorism measures on human rights in the MENA

May 08, 2024

This briefing paper analyses how MENA states impose counter-terrorism related administrative measures, including their legal framework and the entities responsible for imposing them, and examines the impact of these measures on human rights in MENA countries through case studies of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Algeria, Israel/Palestine, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. 

Saudi Arabia’s human rights record assessed during its fourth UPR session

January 31, 2024

During its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on January 22, 2024, Saudi Arabia received 377 recommendations from 136 States on various issues including the right to freedom of expression, the prohibition of torture, and the death penalty. States also used this opportunity to call on the authorities to reform the country’s counter-terrorism framework.

Saudi Arabia: UN Group denounces continued and widespread use of enforced disappearances

October 07, 2020

The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) has recently published a general allegation decrying the widespread practice of enforced disappearances in Saudi Arabia. The letter was sent to the authorities after the WGEID’s 121st session in May 2020, following a previous submission by MENA Rights Group.

Submission to UN Secretary-General shows ongoing reprisals against Saudi human rights defenders who cooperate with the UN

May 18, 2020

On 1 May 2020, MENA Rights Group and ALQST submitted a report to the UN Secretary-General (UNSG), providing updated information on seven individuals who were subjected to reprisals by the Saudi authorities over the past year. This was submitted ahead of the presentation of UNSG’s annual report on reprisals against individuals who cooperate with the United Nations (UN) before the Human Rights Council, in September 2020.

MENA Rights Group highlights systematic practice of enforced disappearance in Saudi Arabia in general allegation to the UN

December 24, 2019

MENA Rights Group has submitted a general allegation to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) highlighting obstacles to the implementation of the 1992 Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance (Declaration) in Saudi Arabia.

It's high time to hold Saudi Arabia to account on women's rights

March 14, 2019

Saudi Arabia has just committed to abolishing the male guardianship system. Let's make sure these are not hollow words.